The Sporting Cristal captain expressed how being unable to play is affecting the team a few weeks after taking part in the Copa Libertadores. He also spoke about his new coach Tiago Nunes.
Sporting Cristal won Alianza Lima via walkover until the game corresponding to the third date of the League 1 Betsson. The intimate club kept its word and did not appear at the start League 1 2023, for which he lost 0:3. As previously mentioned, the blue and white team’s refusal to participate in the Peru tournament is in response to broadcasting rights issues they have with the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF). One of the Rimense team players who declared after the game (which was not played) was Irven Ávila.
Despite the fact that the Bajopontinos scored their first three points of the tournament, Ávila was disgusted with the way they made their Peruvian league debut. “It was won, (but) not in the way we would have liked to start the tournament,” he said in an interview for Liga 1 Máx. He also emphasized that they will soon have a competitive game with the Libertadores, so not playing is disadvantageous.
“It’s not appropriate for what’s coming because it’s a very competitive international match. We aim to start playing football as soon as possible. That doesn’t help us,” he explained. It should be noted that the first two dates of the Peruvian league have been suspended due to the country’s political and social problems.
YOU CAN SEE: Alianza Lima did not play against Sporting Cristal and lost to WO in League 1
The Peruvian player also spoke about his new technical director Tiago Nunes, pointing out that he arrived with a different mentality. He also said that he was dynamic and intense and that he tried to keep the pressure on the opposing field during the 90 minutes. All of this would help to achieve one of the original goals they have this year: to pass the first phase of the Copa Libertadores.
When was the last time Sporting Cristal won by bye?
The last time Sporting Cristal won via walkover was five years ago. In February 2018, the Rimense team beat UTC in this way.